An Arkansas man who as a child helped kill four classmates and a teacher during a 1998 Jonesboro school shooting has pleaded not guilty to theft and fraud charges.
Mitchell Johnson faces two felony charges after police say he took a debit card left by a disabled man at a gas station in Bentonville where Johnson worked. If convicted, Johnson could face a maximum punishment of 30 years in prison and a $25,000 fine.
A hearing in the case was scheduled for May 5th. A jury trial is set for June 24th.
The latest charges come as Johnson remains in Benton County jail after a judge revoked his bail while he was awaiting sentencing on a federal weapons conviction. A jury convicted Johnson in January of owning a gun while being a user of or addicted to a controlled substance. He has yet to be sentenced in that case.
In 1998, Johnson, then 13, and Andrew Golden, then 11, shot at students and teachers at Jonesboro Westside Middle School after
Golden pulled a fire alarm. The boys killed English teacher Shannon Wright and students Natalie Brooks, 11; Paige Herring, 12;
Stephanie Johnson, 12; and Britthney Varner, 11. They wounded 10 others. The case was handled in juvenile court.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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